Woodbine: Oh Canada comes running in Woodstock

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Oh Canada became a viable prospect for the June 26 Queen’s Plate with a somewhat surprising score in the 113th running of the $168,800 Woodstock Stakes at Woodbine Saturday.

Oh Canada ($21.30) was making his season debut in the six-furlong sprint, which featured a fast pace set by the dueling duo of Bear Chocolated and Something Extra.

Oh Canada commenced a wide rally from the back of the pack on the turn. He hit the front at the sixteenth pole, and then held off Black N Beauty, who came very wide from last to finish three-quarters of a length in arrears. Something Extra held third, and favored Madman Diaries was a flat fourth in the eighth-horse field. The final time was 1:10.10.

“We just wanted him to run good and take a run at horses,” said Tiller. “He’s been doing that in the morning. We were trying to teach him to relax a little. Everything worked out great. The speed faltered, and he went wide and got the job done. He had trained very well. He ran the way that he’d trained”